Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-12

If a host of fierce emotions fell suddenly to
fighting within their two souls, their quiet,
cold faces gave no sign. They greeted each
other as calmly as any two human beings
might. Of all the love, the despair, the
heartache that had been, if anything was
left, no man alive could have discerned it.
"This," said Shirley, sis my English brother
in-law, Mr. Edgerly, who detests America
and still can't keep away from it."
Now that he stood beside her. the man she
loved saw with quick pang how pale she
was and the fragile look the years had left, as
they stole, drop by drop, her splendid red
blooded strength and elasticity.
"You look pale" he said. ut is very close
here. If your brother doesn't mind l should
like to take you into the air little"
Robert bowed. She put her hand upon his
arm, and they moved through the crowd to
recess where there was an open window.
Here they were quite alone. They stood and
looked into the brilliant night in utter silence
Yet still, if the feelings of other days came
surging in great wave over their hearts, the
calm, cold faces, the moticnless attitude,
showed it not.
At length they talked of Indifferent mat
ters first, then of their lives since they parted.
It had been half generation since then, yet
these two were fated never to grow old in
their feelings At last he said suddenly:
"Has it ever seemed to you, Shirley, that
you could truly forgive me-"
u have done so long since," she answered,
softly.
He pressed in silence the feir, strong hand
upon his arm.
His wife lived on the same in body and
mind. For all the change to be noticed in
her. it might have been no more than q year
since the morning she tried to murder Shirley.
He found that Shirley's life, too, had gone on
in the same melancholy round, the never
ending care for others, the steady crucifxion
of her own dearest hopes the constant put
ting off from year to year the attainment of
her own brightest ambitions, the brave
marching onward under burden of toll few
men would or could have carried. She would
have been too proud to accept aid had it been
offered her, Was she never to cast her load
aside till she laid it down in the grave? His
heart ached for her-so proud, so gifted, and
yet so weak i'll her great strength And he
could do nothing for her-nothing.
He led her back at last to the place where
Robert waited. Before he turned to leave
her once more, he said;
II have told you twice before, Shirley-the
first time more than twenty years ago-that
If ever could come to you would do it
Remember that still, if you care to. If evel
I am free, though it be century, will CONT
to you and lay my heart at your feet"
She waved her hand i'll mute farewell.
CHAPTER XXI.
Il AM YOUR BROTHER"
Once more the tramp, and for the las
time.
1t was in the month of December. Rober
Edgerly had fingered on in America sine
June. Late in the autumn Brownie joine
him. There was to be reunion of all tn
scattered Carstones in the stone house a
Christmas.
There had been change upon change, for a
but Shirley. As if to annihilate all the Oh
from the face of nature itself, q new railwa
had been built through Linwood. 1t Gu
through the woods where the villagers ha
been won't to picnic, on Fourth Of July an
on other occasions, time out of mind Th
fine old wood had been the last bit Of natiy
forest Of any size left in that region. No
its picturesqueness was destroyed by the ne
railway.
Along the iron track of the new roa
walked, Of, a crisp, frosty morning, our ol
friend, Rip the Tramp. On second though
yes he is our friend. He is indeed very ff
gone In trampisin now, and disreputable I
Cother party's record before election, but Il
for all that we won't disown him.
No, by the holy dollar. We haye bet
among grand people Of late, but we win n
fherefore deny our old acquaintance. Yt
would not have known Rip. Exposure, ov
drinking under and over feeding and vic
edness had written their story all over bin
he skunk along, regular tramp gait. U